Simon Coveney announces he will not run in general election

Former Tánaiste Simon Coveney has announced he will not contest the next general election, standing down as a Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Coveney wrote: “Today I write to FG members in my constituency to say thank you.

“Being elected for 26 years has been the privilege of my life. I will forever be grateful for the faith people in Cork South Central have put in me.

“Now is the right time for renewal in FG & for me to change direction.” First elected to Dáil Éireann at the age of 25 in 1998 in the by-election caused by the death of his father Hugh, Mr Coveney was re-elected in 2002 and in 2004 was elected to the European Parliament.

Re-elected to the Dáil in 2007, he was re-elected in every subsequent election.

He served as minister for housing, defence, agriculture, and foreign affairs, and, in his most recent Cabinet post was Enterprise Minister before standing down in April following the resignation of Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach.

He was deputy leader of Fine Gael from 2017 until he stood down from Cabinet this year, and he served as Tánaiste from 2017 to 2020.

Mr Coveney married Ruth Furney in 2008 and they have three daughters.

More to follow.